PNP: No need for ‘loyalty check’ amid ‘ninja cops’ issue

MANILA, Philippines — There is no need for a “loyalty check” within the ranks of the Philippine National Police (PNP) amid the controversial issue of “ninja cops,” the PNP said Wednesday.

“Sa ngayon, wala pa tayong nakikitang pangangailangan ng loyalty check. Buong hanay ng PNP ay buo pa rin,“  PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

[As for now, we believe that there is no need for a loyalty check. The PNP still works as a whole.]

“At tulad ng dati, tayo ay nakatingin sa Pangulo lamang bilang commander-in -chief [Just like before, we are still looking up to the President, who is the commander-in-chief],” he added.

Banac also admitted that some police officers were saddened by reports that policemen were involved in the recycling drugs seized in anti-drug operations.

“Nalulungkot ang kasamahan natin sa hanay, hindi naman bago ito dahil sa mahabang panahon ng PNP nagkaroon na ng mga issue,” Banac said. “Inaasahan natin na malalampasan ito ng PNP. Babalik din ang tiwala ng mamamayan sa PNP.”

[Some of our policemen are saddened by the issue but this issue is not new as the PNP had issues like this before. We are still hoping that the PNP will get pass this. The public’s trust in the PNP will soon be back.]

No feud between PNP, PDEA

When asked about the coordination between the PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) in the wake of the ninja cops issue, Banac said misunderstanding between the two agencies has not stop them from conducting anti-drug operations.

“Nagkaroon lamang ng hindi pagkakaunawaan pero hindi nakaapektuhan ito ng ongoing operations. Patuloy pa rin ang ating kampanya sa illegal na droga magkatuwang ang PNP at ang PDEA,” Banac said.

[We had some misunderstanding before but this did not affect ongoing operations. The crackdown against illegal drugs is still ongoing as well as PNP and PDEA’s coordination.]

Banac said the “ninja cops” issue will be over soon, noting that the PNP and PDEA will overcome the controversy.

“Pansamantala lamang na usapin at inaasahan natin na malalampasan ito ng PNP at maging ang PDEA [This issue is just temporary and we hope that PNP and PDEA will surpass this issue.],” Banac said.

It can be recalled that it was PDEA chief Aaron Aquino who disclosed that some rogue police officers continue to recycle illegal drugs seized in police operations.

Sen. Richard Gordon claimed that Aquino’s security escorts were recalled following the ninja cops controversy.

The PNP however denied this, saying Aquino and other government officials in Central Luzon had their security escorts recalled because of the Southeast Asian Games. /muf

READ: PDEA chief’s security escorts recalled